The history of Madrid, like that of the world itself, cannot be understood without the presence of water. Subway canals are inseparable from the formation of Madrid. So much so that the municipal motto (“I was built on water, my walls of fire are“) appeals in 50% to the referred issue.
So much so, even, that the etymology of Madrid appeals to that: “land rich in water”. That is what Mayrit means.
For this reason, the guided tours organized by the City Council through the Amaniel Water Galleries can be considered, almost, a trip to the origins of the city. The organization says: “a section of this water journey of approximately 50 meters has been rehabilitated to ensure its conservation as historical heritage of Madrid and to condition it for informative visits”.
Since 1613 (the year in which Philip III ordered its construction), the waterways were one of the reasons for Madrid’s growth. The galleries collected water from the subsoil in the north and through subway channels reached the city.
The inspiration? The Arab qanats we told you about in this article.
How to get tickets to take the guided tour
The guided tour of this part of the city’s history starts at the Dehesa de la villa and registration can be done by e-mail (infodehesa@madrid.es) or by phone (91480214).
In the e-mail you must indicate full name of the participants, age and telephone number, taking into account that each participant can register a maximum of 2 people,
The visits, on the other hand, last about an hour and a half, are held periodically on some Sundays and start at 10 am.